Gear shifting mechanism



`lune 15, 1937.

2 Sheets-Sheet l 8 7 9 8 7 7N 3 m5 9 A mf .d o 3.o w 0 7 yid M 9 m 9% 110 ,M9 v GJ Il d 0 8 OJ an# Filed Nov. l1, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @0 @n,VVV/w om Q@ a om hm. .K T o@ of sri; 1y Y m Q Y 1mmn Patented June l5,1937 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlCE 17 Claims.

This invention relates to gear shifting mechanism, and has .specialutility as a part of the transmission lgearing of automobiles and othervehicles.

This invention may be regarded as an improvement on my co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 721,509; and the flexible shaft shown anddescribed is the same as shown, described and claimed in my co-pendingapplication, Serial No.

In my application, Serial No. 721,509, the gear shifting mechanism asshown and described has shifter elements which move through an unequalrange of movements, and connections which move through equal ranges ofmovements for moving the respective shifter elements through saidunequal ranges of movements; but these shifter elements each move anequal range of movement each way from neutral position. Whereas, in thisapplication, as herein shown and described, the shifter elements notonly move through an unequal range of movements; but also each shifterelement moves through an unequal range of movement each way from neutralposition, while 25 the connections each move through an equal range ofmovement each way from neutral position for shifting the respectiveshifter element through said unequal range of movement each way fromneutral position.

It is believed that this unequal range of inovement of each shifterelement each Way from neutral position effected by an equal range ofmovement of the respective operating connection each Way from neutralposition is new.

Objects of the invention are to provide a gear shifting mechanism havinga single actuator for effecting selecting, interlock control andshifting operations; to provide a mechanism capable of free operationand requiring a minimum of ef- 40 fort to effect the operations ofselection and in- -terlock control; to provide means directly controlledby the actuator for positively holding the unselected gear devices intheir neutral position While the selected gear shifting devices aremoved 45 from and to their neutral position; to provide means wherebythe whole gear shifting mechanism when brought to neutral or any gearshifted position will be normally and automatically locked againstshifting movements if or after 50 the manual selecting force has beenreleased;

to provide means whereby the selecting movements will be simplycontinued to unlock the mechanism, whereupon the selected shiftingmovements may be effected; to provide mecha- 55 nism wherein theoperating means will always have an equal range of movement from neutralposition in effecting a shifted position of the different shifterelements which have an unequal range of movement each way from neutralposition; to provide mechanism in which the shifter yokes are bothmounted for sliding movements on a single rod, and are both guided by acommon rail; and to provide means whereby a diiferent lubricant fromthat used in the transmission and gear shift cases can be readilyapplied to the Whole length of the flexible control shaft.

Various other. objects and advantages of the invention will be madeapparent from the following description, reference being made to theannexed drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view partly in section onthe line I-I of Fig. 2 showing the connection of the operating mechanismwith the devices operated thereby.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view approximately on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view approximately on the line 4 4 ofFig. 5 showing the upper en'd of the operating shaft and itsconnections.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional View approximately on the line 5 5 ofFig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view approximately on the line 6-6of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view approximately on the line 1 1of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of the actuator.

Fig. 9 is a top view of the interlock member.

This invention as shown and described is intended to be placed upon aregular transmission case I having therein the customary gears, notshown, arranged for selectiveshifting into a neutral position and intoreverse, low, intermediate and high speed positions.

A shift case 2 is secured to the transmission case l by bolts 3 and hasa portion 2a which projects to one side and houses a part of themechanism.

One end of a pin 4 is mounted in a hole 5 in the lower wall of the case2, and the other end of said pin- 4 is mounted in a hole 6 in a plug 1secured by screw threads in the upper wall of the case 2.

A pair of levers 8 and 9 are mounted for rocking movements on the pin 4.The lever 8 is positioned against'the inner end of the plug 1. A"

tube I0 mounted on the pin 4 holds the levers 8 and 9 in spacedrelation, and a tube Il is mounted on the pin 4 between the lever 9 andthe lower Wall of the case 2.

An end 8a of the lever 8 has one end of a. link I2 pivotally securedthereto by a headed pin I3 which is riveted to said link; and the otherend 0f the link I2 is pivotally secured in a slot formed in a low andreverse shifting yoke I4 by a bolt I5.

An end 9a of the lever 9 has one end of a link I6 pivotally securedthereto by a headed pin YI1 which is riveted to said link I6; and theother end of said link I6 is pivotally secured in a slot formed in ahigh and intermediate shifting yoke lbyabolt I9.

The yokes I4 and I8 are mounted for sliding movements on a single rod 20mounted in holes 2I and 22 in the front and rear walls, respectively, ofthe case 2 and secured therein by a pin 23. The yokes I4 and I8 haveformations 24 and 25, respectively, for sliding along a common guiderail 26 mounted in holes 21 and 28 in the front and rear walls,respectively, of the case 2 and secured therein by a pin 29.

'I'he end portions 6b and 9b of the levers 8 and 9 are bent away fromone another at 30 and 3|, respectively, and have studs 32 and 33 rivetedor otherwise secured to the adjacent surfaces of their respective ends.

The rear wall of the portion 2EIL of the case 2 has a projection 34which has an axial hole 35 longitudinally therethrough which is closedat its rear end by a disk 36. The front wall of the portion 2a of thecase 2 has an opening therethrough which is covered by a plate 31secured to said portion 2a by bolts 38.

'I'he plate 31 has a projection 39 and the plate 31 and projection 39have a hole therethrough.

having an inner smaller portion 40 and an outer larger portion 4I whichare in axial alignment with the hole 35. i

The shouldered ends of an interlock member 42 are mounted for rockingmovements only in the holes 35 and 40, respectively. VThe body of theinterlock member 42 extends between the holes 35 and 40 substantiallybetween the portion 8b of the lever 8 and the portion 9b of the lever 9and has an upper beveled surface 43 and a lower beveled surface 44 whichhave respective notches 45 and 46 for engagement with the levers 8 and9, respectively.

At the part engageable with the notches 45 and 46, the respective levers8 and 9 are of the same width as said notches. The notches 45 and 46 areof such depth that rocking movements of the member 42 will disengage oneor the other of the. levers 8 or 9; but both of said levers cannot bedisengaged at the same time. A hole 41 concentric with the holes 35 and40 is provided longitudinally through the member 42.. A spindle 48 ismounted for longitudinal movements in the hole 41 and for rockingmovements lwith the member 42. A slot 49 is cut along one side wall ofthe hole 41.

An actuator 50 is secured in a slotted hole through the spindle 48 bypins 5I and projects through the slot 49 and will be made to slide alongsaid slot 49 as the spindle 48 is moved longitudinally in the hole 41.Said slot 49. prevents the spindle 48 from turning in the member 42, andcauses the member 42 to turn with the spindle 48 when said spindle 48 isturned.

The projecting actuator 50 terminates into an end having a slot 52forming anterior and posterior arms 53 and 54, respectively. The arm 54has upper and lower notches ,54a so the ctuator 50 will pass the studs32 and 33 in assembling the control assembly to the shifting assembly.

The actuator 59 might be secured in some other manner to the spindle 48,in fact they could be made integral; so the spindle 48 and the actuator50 may be considered as a unit and termed the actuator 485U.

' The levers 8 and 9 through the respective studs 32 and 33 areselectively engaged by the slot 52 as the actuator 48-58 is turned oneway or the other. Since the studs 32 and 33 are substantially integralwith the respective levers 8 and 9, engagement of the actuator 50 withthe studs 32 or 33 may be termed as engagement with the levers 8 or 9.

The upper and lower surfaces of the actuator 50 are beveled on a linewith the surfaces 43 and 44 of the member 42. These surfaces of theactuator 5|] limit the turning movements of the spindle 48 and actuator50 by coming in contact with the respective adjacent faces of the levers8 and 9.

Guide rods 55 and 56 having their rear ends mounted in holes 51 in therear wall of the portion 2a of the case 2 and their front ends mountedin holes 58 in the plate 31 are thus placed above and below the levers 8and 9, respectively, and operate to guide said levers and prevent thespreading apart of said levers 8 and 9. It can readily be seen that therods 55 and 56 and the surfaces 43 and 44 hold the levers 8 and 9,respectively, in a denite spaced relation at all times so the engagementand disengagement of the actuator 56 will always be positive.

A spring pressed ball 48 mounted in a hole in the spindle 48 engages anotch 41 in the wall of the hole 41 for aiding the placing of theactuator 48-58 in longitudinal neutral position.

It will be noted concerning the levers 8 and 9 that the points in eachwhere force is applied, is fulcrumed and is exerted are all in the sameplane of action; therefore the levers will not tend to twist out ofposition under working stresses.

An operating shaft 59 is mounted for rocking and longitudinal movementsin a supporting member 60 which is secured to the instrument panel 6 I.

A slot 62 having side walls 63 and 64 is provided through the lower wallof the member 60.

A pin 65 mounted in a hole in the shaft 59 projects through the slot 62and limits the rocking movements of the shaft 59 by engaging the sidewalls 63 and 64, as the case may be.

A curved tube 66 has one end secured in the hole 4I by a block 61 and abolt 68, and has the other end adjustably secured in the forward end ofthe supporting member 60 by a gear 69 and a bolt 10. The bolt 10 has asplined portion 1I.

The wall ofthe tube 66 is thickened atA the end and has rack teeth 12cut therein which mesh with the teeth of the gear 69.

A slot 13 is out in a thickened wall at the forward end of the member 6forming ears 14 and 15 between which the gear 69 is placed. A hole isprovided through thev ears 14 and 15 and the gear 69 to receive the bolt10; and the hole in the gear 69 is splined to receive the splinedportion .1I of the bolt 16.

member 68, and when the correct adjustment has been attained to placethe lock notches 82, 83, and 84 in proper relation to the ball 85, thenut of the bolt 18 is tightened and the gear 69 will be clamped betweenthe ears 1.4 and 15 while the teeth of the gear 69 and rack 12 willpositively hold the tube 66 and member 68 in the adjusted position.

A flexible shaft 16 is made up of a plurality of wires 11 twisted uponthemselves an integral number of half-turns and secured together attheir ends and to end elements 18 with alignment tubes.19 mounted inspaced end to end relation upon said wires 11 between said end elements18.

The flexible shaft 16 is guided and supported in the curved tube 66 andone of the end elements 18 is secured to the forward end of the spindle48 while the other one of the end. elements 18 is secured to the forwardend of the shaft 59.

The shaft 59 projects beyond the rea-r end of the supporting member 60and has an operating handle 88 secured thereto by a screw 8i.

A reverse and intermediate speed notch 82, a neutral notch 83 and a lowand high speed notch 84 are, respectively, cut in spaced relationintcthe substance of the shaft 59.

A spring pressed ball 85 is mounted in a hole 86 in a projection 81 inthe member 69 for engagement with the notches 82, 83, and 84. The springpressed ball 85 and the notches 82, 88, and 84 constitute the lockingmeans for locking the shifting mechanism, including the gears not shown,in neutral or any speed position.

It will be noted that the slot 62 is wide enough that the shaft 59 has agreater arc of rotation between limits than the actuator 48--58. Thisdifference in rotations is cared for by the rotative resiliency of theflexible shaft 16.

The notches 82, 83, and 84 are made deep enough and long enough thatthey will not disengage from the ball 85 until the shaft 59 has beenturned beyond the point where the actuator 48-58 has been made to reachthe limit of selective rotation. The objects of this extra rotation ofthe shaft 59 are to insure complete selective rotation of the actuator48-58,` to unlock the notches 82, 83 and 84 from the ball 85, and toutilize the resilient action of the flexible shaft 16 to automaticallyreturn the shaft 59 and notches 82, 88, and 84 to normal rotativerelation when manual force is released.

This return to normal rotative relation of the shaft 59 willautomatically lock the mechanism against shifting movements, when or assoon as all parts are in neutral or a speed position, because therespective notch 82, 83 or 84 will automatically engage the ball 85.

With such an arrangement, it is obvious that no spring pressed detent ofany kind is needed at the shifting forks I4 and I8 and shiftingmovements will be much more easily made.

The spindle 48 and adjacent parts are mounted on an angle with thecenter line of the transmission case I so the tube 66 can be given aneasy bend without coming in contact with the bell housing, not shown.

The parts of the mechanism are so constructed and arranged that thecontrol parts, including the levers 8 and 9, will always move the samedistance in effecting each of the different shifts, while the shiftingforks will move a different distance for each of the different shifts.

This difference of movements is brought about by the angles given theends 8a and 9a of the levers 8 and 9, respectively, relative to thefulcrum pin 4 and the line of movement of the yokes I4 and I8 togetherwith the position of the yoke end of the links I2 and I6 relative to thelever 'end of said links.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, and considering the position shown,which is neutral position, of the lever 8, link l2 and the line ofmovements of the yoke I4 on the rod 28, it is obvious that a backwardswing of the lever 8ar through a given number of degrees will move theyoke I4'farther than a forward swing of the lever 8a through the samenumber of degrees. Also, considering the position shown of the lever 9a,link I6 and the line of movements of the yoke I8 on the rod 20,12; isobvious that a backward swing of the lever 8 through a given number ofdegrees will move the yoke I8 farther than a forward swing of the lever9a through the same number of degrees.

A valve 88 is shown as being made up of a leather disk 89 curved forwardat its outer edge and secured between metal disks 98 and 9| byrivets 92and mounted in the hole 48 beyond the end of the member 42. A hole 93,slightly larger than shaft 16, is provided through the leather disk 89and the metal disks 98 and 9| for the easy passage therethrough of theflexible shaft 16.

A connection 9,4 for admitting lubricant is secured in a hole 95 throughthe wall of the projection 39, and a hole 96 through the wall of thetubuar block 81 and tube 68 connects the hole 95 with the inside of thetube 66.

The spindle 48 is of such length that the end wall 48it will come incontact with the disk 98to close the hole 93 when the notch 82 is inengagement with the ball 85. Whensaid parts are in this position,lubricant introduced to the inside of the tube 66 through the connection94 and holes 95 and 96 will be prevented from flowing into the shiftingcase 2 by the valve 88. It has been found that fiber grease is preferredin the tube 68 while a lighter grease is better for use in thetransmission and shift cases I and 2, rcspectively.

In the operation of the device, the following are some of the conditionsto be noted: That the spindle 48, actuator 58 and member 42 cannot berocked except when the spindle 48 is in such longitudinal position thatthe levers 8 and 9 are free from the surfaces 43 and 44 at which timethe ball 48' will be in the notch 41 and the notch 83 will be at orengaged with the ball 85; that the actuator 48-59 cannot be movedlongitudinally from neutral or any speed position until the shaft 59 hasbeen turned a suflicient distance for disengagement or to preventengagement of the respective notch 82, 83 or 84 with the ball 85; thatthe shaft 59 will be automatically locked against longitudinal movementby the locking means when brought to neutral or a speed position whilein a normal rotative relation; that the shaft 59 may be turned anadditional distance beyond a fully selected position of the actuator48-50 against the resilient action of the exible shaft 16; that theshaft 59 will return to normal rotative relation by the resilient actionof the exible shaft 16 when rotative manual force is relieved; that anew selection, as to the shaft 59, may be made against the resilientaction of the exible shaft 16 at any time; that a new selection, so.held, as to the shaft 59, will be completed as soon as the parts arebrought to neutral position; that a new selection is prevented frombeing completed at any place except the neutral position by the surfaces43 and 44 engaging the levers 8 and 9, respectively that each shifteryoke moves through an unequal distance each way from neutral position ineffecting the different speed shifts; that each lever moves through anequal distance each way from neutral position in effecting movement ofthe respective shifter yoke through said unequal distance each way fromneutral position; and that the operating means is moved longitudinallythrough an equal distance each way from neutral position in efiecting ashifting movement of the respective yoke through said unequal distanceeach way from neutral position.

Therefore, to make a shift into either low or' reverse speed, startingfrom neutral position, manual force is applied to the operating parts80, 59, 18 and 48-50 to turn the actuator 48-50 to the fully selectedposition where the stud 32 will be entirely engaged by the slot 52 andthe lever 8 will be entirely free from the notch 43 and to'continue toturn the operating shaft 59 against the resilient action of the exibleshaft 'I6 until the notch 83 will disengage the ball 85, and then toapply manual force to move the parts 89, 59, 'I6 and 48-50longitudinally to shift the selected gear as desired through the parts32, 8, I3, I2, I5, and I4, and finally release all manual force to allowthe resilient action of the flexible shaft I6 to return the operatingshaft 59 to normal rotative relation where either the notch 82 or lthenotch 84, as the case may be, will ensage the ball 85 and lock the partsin the shifted position.

Or, to make a shift into either intermediate or high'speed, startingfrom neutral position, manual force is applied to the operating parts80, 59, 'I6 and 48-50 to turn the actuator 48-50 to the fully selectedposition where the stud 33 will be fully engaged by the slot 52 and thelever 9 will be entirely free from the notch 44 and to continue to turnthe operating shaft 59 against the resilient action of the flexibleshaft 16 until the notch 83 will disengage the ball 85, and then toapply manual force to move the parts 80, 59, 'I6 and 48-50longitudinally to shift the selected gear as desired through the parts33, 9, Il, I6, I9, and I8 and nally release all manual force to allowthe resilient action of the flexible shaft 'I6 to return the operatingshaft 59 to normal rotative relation where either the notch 82 or thenotch 84, as the case may be, will engage the ball 85 and lock the partsin the shifted position.

It is obvious that rotative manual force may be relieved from the shaft59 at any time after either notch 82, 83 or 84 has been disengaged fromthe ball 85 whereupon the shaft 59 will automatically return to normalrotative relation, and then if shifting movement is made to engage oneof the notches 82, 83 or 84 with the ball 85 such engagement will notonly stop the shifting movement but also will lock the parts in suchshiftedl position.

In making a speed shift starting from a speed pcsition, the shaft 59 maybe turned in either direction to disengage the-notch 82 or the notch 84,as the case may be, from the ball 85. If the turning is in the directionfor a new selection and the parts are brought to neutral position, theresilient action of the flexible shaft 'I6 will immediately place theactuator 48-50 in the correct selected position, but if the turning isin the same direction as the old selection, the parts may be brought toneutral position and, if the old selection is desired, the shiftingmovement may be continued past neutral position or returned from neutralposition, provided the shaft 59 is held suiciently turned to preventlocking in the neutral position; however, if after having moved toneutral position a different selection is desired, the shaft 59 willhave to be fully turned in the proper direction before neutral positionis passed or returned from in order to be able to eifect the desiredshift.

It has been foun-d that, in shifting from one speed position toanotherspeed position, it is preferable to fully turn the shaft 59 immediatelyin the direction of the desired selection.

I do not restrict myself in any unessential respects; but what I claimand desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. Gear shifting mechanism ofthe character described comprising a case,shifter yokes mounted in said case, levers mounted in said case andhaving permanent link connection with said shifter yokes respectively,an actuator mounted in said case for rocking and longitudinal movements,a device supported by said actuator selectively engageable with saidlevers respectively, means for rocking said actuator to engage saiddevice with said levers selectively and for moving said actuatorvlongitudinally to operate the selected lever and shift the shifteryokes, and means supporting said actuator and controlled by said devicefor locking the unselected lever against movement.

2. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprising a case,shifter yokes mounted in said case, a link permanently connected to eachof said yokes, a lever mounted in said case for each link andpermanently connected vto said link for shifting said yokesrespectively, an actuator mounted in said case and rockable toselectively engage one of said levers and movable longitudinally tooperate said selected lever to shift sai-d shifter yokes, meanssupporting said actuator and controlled by said actuator for locking theunselected lever -against movement, and means for rocking and movingsaid actuator longitudinally.

3. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprising a case,shifter yokes mounted in said case, levers mounted in said case andhaving permanent link connection with said yokes for shifting said yokesrespectively, an actuator mounted in said case, operating meansextending into said case an-d connected to said actuator for rotatingsaid actuator for selectively engaging said levers and for moving saidactuator longitudinally to actuate said levers to shift the shifteryokes, and means supporting said actuator and controlled by saidactuator for locking the unselected lever against movement.

4. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprising shifterelements, levers having permanent link connection with said elementsrespectively, operative means mounted for rotative movements toselectively engage said levers and for longitudinal movements to actuatethe -selected lever to shift the shifter elements, and

ing said connections selectively, a support, a locking means, andoperative means connected to said actuator and mounted in said supportfor rotative movements to selectively position said actuator and toiunlock said locking means and longitudinal movements to operate saidselectively positioned acutator, said locking means finallyautomatically co-operating with saidv support and said operating meansto positively lock said elements in any one of the shifted positions.

6. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprisingelements to be shifted to and from a plurality of positions, an actuatormounted for rotative selective movements and longitudinal shiftingmovement for shifting said elements selectively, an operating shaftsupported for differential rotation with respect to said actuator andconnected thereto for imparting rotative and longitudinal movements tosaid actuator, and means positively preventing a shifting of saidelements from any shifted position until said operating shaft has beendifferentially rotated with respect to said actuator.

7. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprisingelements to be shifted to and from a plurality of positions, an actuatormounted for rotative selective movements and longitudinal shiftingmovements for shifting said elements selectively, a exible shaftconnected to said actuator, a manual operating shaft supported fordifferential rotation with respec't to said actuator against theresilient action of said flexible shaft and connected to said flexibleshaft for imparting rotative and longitudinal movements to saidactuator, and means automatically positioned by the resilient action ofsaid flexible shaft to positively lock said elements in any one of saidshifted psitions after manual rotative force has been released from saidmanual operating shaft.

8. Gear shifting mechanism of the character` described comprisingelements to be shifted from a plurality of positions, an actuatorsupported for rocking and longitudinal movements for shifting saidelements, an operating shaft, means connecting said operating shaft andsaid'actuator for actuating said actuator by said operating shaft andleaving said operating shaft free to rotate beyond said actuator, andmeans for positively preventing said shifting of said elements from anyshifted position until said operating shaft has been rotated beyond saidactuator.

9. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprising a shaftsupported for rocking movements and for longitudinal movements from aplurality of positions, an operating shaft, means connecting said shaftsfor operating said first shaft by said operating shaft and leaving saidoperating shaft free to rotate beyond said first shaft, and meanspositively preventing longitudinal movements of said shafts from any oneof said plurality of positions until said operating shaft has beenrotated beyond said first shaft.

10. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprising ashaft supported for rocking movements and for longitudinal movementsfrom a plurality of positions, a manual operating shaft, a flexibleshaft connecting said shafts for operating said rst shaft by saidoperating shaft and giving said operating shaft differential rotationrelative to said rst shaft against the resilient action of said flexibleshaft, and means controlled by said resilient action of said flexibleshaft t0 automatically and positively lock said shafts in any one ofsaid longitudinal positions after the h manual rotative force isreleased from said manual operating shaft.

11. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprising a pairof yokes mounted on a single rail for shifting movements, levers havingpermanent connection with said yokes for shifting said yokesrespectively, an operating means rotative to selectively engage one ofsaid levers and movable longitudinally to actute the selectedI lever toshift the respective yoke, and a device mounted for rotative movementsonly and controlled by said operating means for. locking the unselectedlevers against movements.

12. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprisingshifter elements, levers having link connection with said shifterelements for shifting said elements respectively, an actuatorselectively engageable directly with said levers for actuating theselected lever, means supporting said actuator and controlled by saidactuator for locking the unselected lever against movement, and meansfor operating said actuator.

13. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprisingshifter elements, levers having link connection with said elements forshifting said elements respectively, means to selectively engage andoperate said levers, and a device mounted for rotative movements onlycontrolled by said means for locking the unselected levers againstmovements.

14. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprisingshifter elements, levers having link connection with said elements forshifting said elements respectively, means-to selectively engage andoperate said levers, and a device mounted for rotative movements onlysupporting said means and controlled by said means for locking theunselected levers against movements.

15. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprising a pairof shifter elements, a pair of levers having link connection with saidelements for shifting said elements respectively, means to selectivelyengage and operate said levers, and a rotative device extending betweensaid levers and controlled by said means for locking the unselectedlevers against movements.

16. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprising ashifting case, a tube attached te said case, a control shaft supportedfor movements in said case and said tube, a device through whichlubricant may be forced into said tube, and valve means cooperating withsaid case and a part of said shaft only when said part of said shaft ispositioned against said valve to prevent said lubricant from enteringsaid case while being forced into said tube.

17. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprisingshifter elements, levers having permanent connection with said elementsfor shifting said elements respectively, means to directly engage andoperate said levers selectively,`

and a device supported for rotative movements only and controlled bysaid means for locking the unselected lever against movement.

` ELMER. G. KESLING.

